Applications are now open for the 2026 edition of the Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa, a three-month programme designed to support growth-stage technology startups across the continent.
The accelerator, organised by Google, will run from April to June 2026 and aims to help promising African startups scale their businesses through mentorship, technical support and access to advanced digital tools.
According to the organisers, the programme brings together 10 to 15 startups per cohort to address key technical challenges through a mix of remote and in-person sessions, one-on-one mentorship, group learning activities and sprint projects.
The accelerator will focus on startups building scalable products or services, particularly those leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Participants will receive guidance from Google engineers, product specialists and industry experts who will work closely with founders to solve technical challenges and accelerate product development.
Selected startups will also benefit from early access to Google’s artificial intelligence products, opportunities to apply for Google Cloud credits, and access to specialised training sessions and technical boot camps.
Other benefits include strategic business support, mentoring from Google teams, leadership development sessions for founders and collaboration with experts on critical technical projects.
Organisers noted that the programme is equity-free, meaning participating startups will not be required to give up ownership stakes or pay any participation fees.
To qualify, startups must demonstrate market traction, have a scalable business model with strong growth potential, and possess a technical team committed to participating fully in the programme.
Applications opened on February 4, 2026, and will close on March 18, 2026. The programme is scheduled to kick off in April 2026, with participating startups graduating in June 2026 during a demo day where they will showcase their innovations.
Interested startups can submit their applications through the official Google for Startups platform before the deadline.
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